Container and method of forming



Aug. 7, 1962 V- B. KRAUSE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FORMING Filed June 30, 1959 INVENTOR. VICTOR B. KRAUSE BY f a flak M 3,048,264 CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FORMING Victor B. Krause, Hollis, N.Y., assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed June 30, 1959, Ser. No. 824,029 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-4533) The present invention relates to a novel enclosure for an article of commerce. More particularly it relates to a novel partially transparent outer container for packaged articles which uses the packaged article to at least partially support the container. 7

At the present time articles of commerce are made in numerous shapes, forms and configurations. However, when shipped in large numbers they are almost invariably packaged in rectanguloid or other regular geometrically shaped outer containers for the simple reason that they can be easily stacked when in such containers, and be cause the boxes in which they are shipped generally have a rectanguloid shape. When unpacked in a store and placed on the storekeepers shelves the rectanguloid shape of outer containers also lends itself to easy stacking and minimizes the tendency of the package to fall off when disturbed slightly. This slight disturbance may take place, for example, When a customer takes one package from a stack of packages on a supermarket shelf.

One requirement which arises from the use of these outer containers is that they require separate printed mat ter on the surface to identify the contents of the package. The article might, in many cases, identify itself if it could be seen. Further, if adequate transparency could be achieved, the printed matteron the article itself could be seen and would serve to identify the product directly.

Accordingly it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a novelpackage which permits reviewing the interior of the package while at the same time affording the desirable outer rectanguloid shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaged article which utilizes the contents of the package at least partially for display and at least partially for support of the outer container.

A further object is to provide a method of forming an outer container on an article with great facility and economy.

Still another object is to provide a package which is readily opened and which can be partially utilized in conjunction with the packaged article after said package is opened.

The objects will be in part apparent and in part brought out from the description which follows.

In one of its broader aspects the invention comprises forming two opposite end pieces of an outer rectanguloid container, mounting these end pieces on the article to be enclosed and attaching a sheet of transparent flexible film to the edge portions of said end pieces thereby to form the remaining four walls of said rectanguloid.

In another of its broader aspects the invention comprises a container for a self supporting article comprising a transparent flexible wrapping material affixed to the edge portions of a plurality of aligned regular geometric relatively flat rigid articles.

The manner in which the above and other objects of this invention may be achieved may be more clearly explained and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the two opposite end pieces 10 and 12 such as might be fixed to the opposite ends of a cylindrical article to be wrapped.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a top end piece suitable for use in covering a bottle or like article.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view, in part in section, of a container of the present invention enclosing a bottle.

nited States Patent 3,048,264 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a modification of the elements of FIG. 1 shown mounted on a bottle having a rectangular base.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a container end piece 10 is shown in its normal position opposite end piece 12. Each piece is formed of a resilient plastic material such as polyethylene. The resilience of the material, while not essential, is preferred because it permits a press fit of the end piece or cap, both on the base of the enclosed article, shown as a bottle in FIG. 3, and on the usual cap, or top of the bottle.

In order to be suitable for use as an end piece mounted by a press fit on the top or bottom of a self supporting article to be enclosed, the pieces 10 and 12 are provided with closely conforming recesses 14 and 16 (shown in phantom), such as are usually provided for purposes offorming a press fit.

The external surface of these pieces must be adapted, if they are not so adapted by reason of their composition, for receiving a layer of a transparent flexible film for affixation thereto. This may be carried out by the use of various adhesives including pressure adhesives. Preferably this 'affixation should be carried out by means of heat sealing, as, for example, by a seal formed between the film and the peripheral surface of the end piece. The cost of forming such seals is minimal.

Alternatively the entire package may be Wrapped in an over layer of cellophane or similar film which film can be folded over the end pieces, as it might be folded over the ends of a box. Sealing of the overlapped portions of the overwrap and a partial sealing of the wrap to the end pieces will complete the formation of a container adapted for containing, and at the same time displaying, the wrapped article.

Where the tendency of the end pieces to rotate about an axis through the wrapped article is greater, the need for afiixing the film to the end piece is also great.

A centrally located thin portion 18 may be included in the end piece located over the opening to a bottle as this will permit puncture of the end piece, as by a hypodermic needle, to Withdraw fluid from the bottle without changing the condition, as, for example, the sterile condition thereof. An external closure for this thin portion, which may be an adhesively retained closure, may also be used to preserve this surface of the thin surface portion of the end piece in a sterile condition.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view of an end piece top is seen. As is evident from this figure the recess 14 may have an undercut 20 so that the cap will be firmly held on a bottle having a head 22 at its upper end as shown in FIG. 3. The under cut may have numerous forms to accommodate the top of a bottle or the various forms of caps such as are used on bottles or other inner containers. The end piece cap may serve as the cap of the bottle directly and be removed and replaced numerous times through the use of the press fit closure. According to this modification the square end piece cap serves first as the end element of the novel container of the subject invention. A tear tape or tapes can be incorporated conveniently in the transparent wrap for easy removal of the wrap, particularly at the surface immediately above or below the end pieces. After removal of the wrap or other opening of the package, the square end 1, 2 and 4 is an appendage or flap which may descend from one edge of the upper piece or may rise from a similar edge of a base piece 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1. These flaps can serve a dual purpose. A first purpose is to provide a greater surface for aifixing the external transparent wrap. A second purpose is to further retard rotation of the two end pieces relative to one another.

These flaps are particularly useful when a bottle, such as that illustrated in FIG. 4, is to be contained. The flap 40 which descends from the back edge of the upper end piece 42 rests against the back of the bottle 44 just below the shoulder portion thereof 46. In so contacting the broad flat side of the bottle any tendency of the top piece to rotate is minimized. A complementary flap 48 extending up from the back edge of the base piece 50 gives the package a symmetrical appearance. The shape of the base of the bottle, and the shape of the conforming recess in the base piece 50 prevent any appreciable rotation. This modification is particularly useful when the surface of the end piece 42 is substantially greater than that of the cap 43.

Generally the rotation of the two end pieces relative to one another is minimal where an appreciable extent of seal has been developed between the transparent flexible film and the end pieces. This is because any such relative rotation requires considerable stretching of the film. For this reason a film of sufiicient thickness as to resist such stretching must be used. Because of its eX- cellent mechanical properties in this respect the use of cellophane is recommended.

Alternatively various polymeric films may be employed as the packaging needs may dictate.

One particularly advantageous combination is the use of a polymer coated polyolefin film together with polymer coated end pieces. A method of coating :1 film, which method is readily adaptable to the coating of end pieces is described in copending application for patent Serial No. 794,251, filed February 19, 1959. Alternatively a polymer coated cellophane having a vinylidene chloride constituent base may be heat sealeddirectly to properly coated polyolefin end pieces. The coating of cellulosic end pieces, such as end pieces of cardboard, with self-anchoring lacquer coating compositions as described in copending application Serial No. 757,938, filed August 28, 1958, may also be used advantageously preparatory to heat sealing a coated cellophane to the pieces.

Numerous other similar combinations may also be used based on the novel concepts disclosed herein.

Since many examples of the foregoing procedures and articles may be carried out and made, and since many modifications can be made in the procedures and articles described without departing from the scope of the subject invention, the foregoing is to be interpreted as illustrative only, and not as defining or limiting the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A package comprising a substantially rigid hollow article having a base, side walls and a top, a rectangular support member of resilient plastic for each of the said article top and base, each of said members having an internal recess in which said article is tightly retained by a press fit and each being provided with flat end walls extending in planes substantially beyond those of the said article side walls, said members being arranged in substantial alignment and parallel to each other, and a transparent flexible film spaced from and enclosing the said article, being tightly secured over the said fiat end walls to the said support members.

2. A package in accordance with claim 1, in which the said top support member forms the closure for the said article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,903,734 Avery Apr. 11, 1933 1,955,851 Heller Apr. 24, 1934 2,245,064 Bemiss June 10, 1941 2,470,456 Bailar et a1 May 17, 1949 

